National carrier Air India has met with Geneva-based in-flight Wi-Fi provider OnAir about bringing the Internet to its international flights.
The airline has met with different global agencies that provide equipment for satellite broadband access about providing Wi-Fi for passengers, according to The Economic Times. The service is currently available on American Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa and other airlines.
"It's just a matter of time until we will have access of satellite broadband on board our international flights. We are in discussions with various agencies and have met officials of OnAir. We will make a decision on it in the coming few months," said Anil Sondhi, executive director of materials management and information technology at Air India.
"As headphones started as a paid service on airlines, a few decades ago, but soon became free, so will Wifi access in the coming years," he added.
With Wi-Fi, users will be able to access basic Internet functions such as email, Facebook, Twitter and others, MediaNama reported. However, Sondhi did not reveal for which International routes the service would be available, or how much the service will cost.
OnAir stated that the airline itself sets the price for Internet access, and that the prices are different for each airline. Thai Airways provides volume-based plans that start at $4.50 for 3MB, and Singapore Airlines provides time-based plans at a starting price of $11.95 per hour.
Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir, confirmed his company's meetings with officials from Air India, The Economic Times reported.
"Basic Internet functions such as access of emails, social media messaging on Facebook or Twitter for the entire cabin and cockpit is possible with current technology. However, seamless streaming of YouTube videos will take a few years to become a possibility," Dawkins said.
In India, access to Wi-Fi will stay out of domestic air-space due to rules of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which bans the use of all electronic devices that transmit radio signals, mobile phones or radio, from flights.
However, several international airlines like JetBlue have started to offer Wi-Fi to passengers for free, The Economic Times reported. GoGo and other websites have started to offer prepaid Wi-Fi cards that start at $16 and can be used in cabins of almost 10 carriers based in the U.S.
"It's now a proven fact across aviation industry that use of in-flight Wifi or GSM-based services don't interfere with aircraft communication," Dawkins said.
